Stiff To Remove Mont Blanc Cap

[GrahamFP]

Hello - There seems to be a bit of a problem with my wife's Mont Blanc pen and wondering if anyone can advise?

 

The cap is very stiff to put on (over the nib) and reluctant to come off again.

 

The small end ring on the pen, which I assume is grabbed inside the cap, is loose and when the cap is in place although

it is stiff to put on, has a small degree of slack, in that you can 'rattle' it slightly up and down (longitudinally)

 

I am afraid that one day one is going to pull off the cap and leave the ring behind! I'd rather not do that!

 

Anyone any ideas as to how to address/fix this problem (seems like it needs some special ring compression tool to me)?

 

Thanks

Edited October 11, 2010 by GrahamFP

[sirksael]

some more info and/or a picture might help us to answer your question. Like, what model is it?

[GrahamFP]

Yes, sorry, of course, it's a Meisterstuck, about 24 years old, I can get a picture uploaded later maybe but it's a plain black pen and the ring I am talking about comes just below where your fingers are when writing, does that help enough, thanks for your interest in the problem anyway!

 

Now (hopefully)attached a picture - well the picture has come out terribly but at least you can see the ring I mean, the one nearest the nib, it's loose on its groove.

Edited October 11, 2010 by GrahamFP

[Mr.Rene]

it seems to be a MB 144 cartridge and converter filler...

good luck!

regards,

[GrahamFP]

it seems to be a MB 144 cartridge and converter filler...

good luck!

regards,

 

Yes that's the filling system, thanks for the number at least, now for the good luck!

[CS388]

When does the cap become stiff to put on? Near the end of the action?

 

As far as I remember, (had a 144 years ago), it is the other gold ring (top of the section) which holds the cap in place?

 

But, yes, the lower ring should not be loose. Not sure how to correct that.

 

Get a good torch and look inside your cap - is it the same internal construction as this one:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/166463-slip-on-cap-parts/

 

If so, a good strip down and clean may help.

 

You have posted in the correct forum for this problem, but you also may find more help from the experts in the Montblanc forum.

 

Best of luck, CS

[GrahamFP]

When does the cap become stiff to put on? Near the end of the action?

 

As far as I remember, (had a 144 years ago), it is the other gold ring (top of the section) which holds the cap in place?

 

But, yes, the lower ring should not be loose. Not sure how to correct that.

 

Get a good torch and look inside your cap - is it the same internal construction as this one:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/166463-slip-on-cap-parts/

 

If so, a good strip down and clean may help.

 

You have posted in the correct forum for this problem, but you also may find more help from the experts in the Montblanc forum.

 

Best of luck, CS

 

Interesting cap you have there and I wish this one was like that but no. There's no metalwork inside but I can see the groove for the ring I mention and it is definitely that ring that engages because once it's home then the pen can move in and out of the cap, quite loosely, by the same amount as the ring is loose. I am tempted to resort to applying a little epoxy, warmed so it flows beneath the ring, wipe off all visible surplus and trust that firms it up enough to stop the movement. But my wife may baulk at that!

[CS388]

Ah, I see.

 

The only problem I can foresee is: If the ring which engages the cap has expanded, this could be the reason that the cap is stiff to put on? Therefore your epoxy would stop the wobble, but may make the stiffness situation more permanent?

 

Fingers crossed, CS

[GrahamFP]

Ah, I see.

 

The only problem I can foresee is: If the ring which engages the cap has expanded, this could be the reason that the cap is stiff to put on? Therefore your epoxy would stop the wobble, but may make the stiffness situation more permanent?

 

Fingers crossed, CS

 

Indeed, I need a shrink;-)

[hari317]

MB is good with stocks of spare parts and might be able to service your pen, likely they will fit your existing nib into a new pen or a new section.

[sirksael]

Either the ring has expanded, or the gripping part inside the cap has shrunk. If it has shrunk, it may grip the ring harder and may have dislodged it when removing the cap.

There are ring compression tools available, but I have never before seen the need to use such a tool on a pen which is that 'young'.

 

When the ring is in the location where it is supposed to be, can it also move SIDEWAYS (as opposed to up and down)? If it has expanded, it should have some play in that direction as well.

 

If not, then it is probably safe to carefully epoxy it back in place. Then, have a good look at the mechanism inside the cap. Is it deformed in any way, or is there maybe dried ink in there preventing it from working well?

 

In any case, the option of sending it in to Mont Blanc for repair is probably more expensive but surely safer.

[GrahamFP]

Either the ring has expanded, or the gripping part inside the cap has shrunk. If it has shrunk, it may grip the ring harder and may have dislodged it when removing the cap.

There are ring compression tools available, but I have never before seen the need to use such a tool on a pen which is that 'young'.

 

When the ring is in the location where it is supposed to be, can it also move SIDEWAYS (as opposed to up and down)? If it has expanded, it should have some play in that direction as well.

 

If not, then it is probably safe to carefully epoxy it back in place. Then, have a good look at the mechanism inside the cap. Is it deformed in any way, or is there maybe dried ink in there preventing it from working well?

 

In any case, the option of sending it in to Mont Blanc for repair is probably more expensive but surely safer.

I think discretion is the better part of valour here and a trip to Mont Blanc is called for - but if I were to epoxy the ring in place I would apply the gle, warm it, clean surplus off and once it starts to set, put the cap on to centralise the ring before 'set in concrete' but I don't think I will do that - but it would be an exciting moment to see if the cap would come off again :-)

 

Meanwhile a very 'dinky' looking Parker pen I bought off E-bay (for not much money) has arrived and it's a bit of a wreck. The nib is sort of 'hump-backed before the point and looks 'beaky' although it writes smoothly enough it delivers rather a heavy line. I think a new nib is really what's called for, maybe when I have read up on the subject! I think I'll stick to Sheaffers in future.

 

But the clip on the cap is also hump-backed (this pen has been on a general bender, obviously) and I need to remove the clip to re-set it properly. Is it possible to do that without ruining the so-called jewel at the top? Is that a screw-head I see in there?

[CS388]

I guess the trip to Montblanc services is your safest bet.

 

I have read threads on this forum (cannot find them now, of course) about swaging rings (shrinking) - it's a pretty specialist skill - but may be worth looking into if your pen has huge sentimental value, as there's a chance that MB will simply replace much of your pen with new parts.

 

Hope it goes well. Let us know the outcome.

 

Re Parker questions - I can't help you (not my brand) but many others will be able to. However, you may want to start a new topic as the title of this thread will not attract the correct specialists.

 

Cheers, CS